Theresa Pauline Kaufmann (nee Sichkaryk) was born in Athabasca, Alberta, on February 1, 1951. She was the fifth child in a large family of ten children born to Paul and Matilda Sichkaryk.

Theresa spent her youth growing up on the family farm in the Wildwood and Chip Lake area west of Edmonton. During this time, she proved to be a fine school league basketball player. Life was quiet and simple doing farm work, going to school, dances and movies and helping to raise her younger brothers and sisters.

In 1973, Theresa met her future husband, Klaus Kaufmann. They were married in November 1975, and soon made their home in Ft. McMurray. Their son, Charlie, was born in 1977, and shortly after, the three moved to the Lac La Biche area to begin farming, which was a lifestyle they enjoyed for the next thirty years. Their daughter, Jillian, was born in 1982.

Theresa changed career direction in her early 40’s, and for the last 22 years of her career, was a Healthcare Aid at the Lac La Biche Health Centre Continuing Care unit. A more dedicated and compassionate healthcare professional would be hard to imagine. Rain, snow, and long shiftwork hours did nothing to dampen her passion for helping and comforting the sick and elderly. Even in the midst of a cancer diagnosis and early treatments, she spoke eagerly of returning to the work and people she so cared for.

A beloved and dearly missed wife, mother and grandmother, Theresa will, in addition to these, forever be very fondly remembered as a resourceful homemaker, a fine cook and baker (especially of apple pies), a farmer, a gardener, and a warm, generous friend to many. Theresa’s goodness and bright spirit will forever live on in all of us.

A memorial for Theresa Kaufmann was held October 21, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the Craigend Community Senior Centre.

In leiu of flowers, donations to the "Ladies Auxiliary" Continuing Care of W. J. Cadzow Health Centre would be appreciated.